County does not belong to Alston, Arnold
Regarding the recent actions of Commissioners Melvin “Skip” Alston and Steve Arnold to change top county administrators with little explanation:
Public business is just that, public. Telling citizens to just trust you is unacceptable. County employees trust the commissioners to treat them fairly; we all see how that is working out. This county does not belong to Alston and Arnold. They are our representatives. Whatever good intentions they may have, their secretive, heavy-handed actions are destructive.
Even the county employees appointed by the commissioners deserve fair treatment. Just because you win an election does not mean you can disrespect county employees and disregard common decency in conducting county business. Mr. Arnold just went through a terrible time of personal trouble and a lot of people spoke up in his defense. Is this how he responds to that example?
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The public deserves to know what “direction” these two have decided to take us. We demand to know what changes are to be made and why. Those commissioners not speaking up will be considered part of this activity and held accountable as if they are. If they don’t agree with doing our business in secret, now is the time to speak up.
Michael Tellekamp
Jamestown
Keep it up, guys
I would like to encourage the county commissioners to keep cleaning house. No one in local or state government should make more than $50,000 a year. Also, any newly hired government employees should not be given pensions, and should be limited to no more than 10 years of service.
Chuck Mann
Greensboro
Agreement in Iraq will endanger U.S. soldiers
The new Status of Forces Agreement in Iraq poses a significant threat to combat troops. Requiring them to get search warrants and coordinating with Iraqi police and army units will lead to exposure of planned operations by covert agents. Terrorists with advance warning can plan ambushes, move equipment and mine access roads.
These new requirements are more appropriate for police forces, and inappropriate for combat troops. The Iraqi government is within its right to impose more organized and closer control, but must accept full security responsibility by its own forces.
U.S. personnel should be restricted to supply and training functions, with personnel moved to static bases outside of all populated areas.
Ed Philpott
Greensboro
Leaders have failed us on immigration issue
The Dec. 7 article, “A Life in the Shadows,” by Jason Hardin, chronicles the problems of “undocumented immigrants” living in this country. Once again, our government has failed us.
The immigration problems, the financial crisis, health care, Social Security, the mortgage debacle (need I go on?) are just a few areas in which the politicians from both parties have failed us. I feel for these individuals “living in the shadows.” I serve dinner to the homeless every Wednesday night and see firsthand the numerous problems they face. My heart goes out to them.
However, 9/11 changed everything. We cannot live safely in this country unless we know who is living here. I call for Democrats and Republicans to forget about politics and protect the citizenry. If that means documenting everyone who is here illegally, so be it. If it means sending all illegal immigrants home, so be it. Just do something and stop sitting on your butts.
I call on our newly elected senator, Kay Hagan, to do something! Protect legal citizens and be compassionate to those here illegally, but don’t turn a blind eye to a problem that stares us in the face.
Jerry Clark
Greensboro
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